Taxpayers shouldn't fund war on Asahi Shimbun

In his 2015 article for The Japan Times, Robert Dujarric critiques the Abe administration’s use of public funds to target the Asahi Shimbun newspaper. He highlights the government’s efforts to discredit the publication following its retraction of reports related to wartime “comfort women,” arguing that such actions resemble authoritarian tactics and threaten press freedom. Dujarric contends that taxpayer money should not be used to undermine independent media.

Dujarric emphasizes that the government’s campaign against the Asahi Shimbun sets a dangerous precedent for democratic societies. He warns that politicizing media criticism erodes public trust and stifles open discourse, essential components of a healthy democracy. The article serves as a call to uphold journalistic independence and resist governmental overreach.